Clamp.



T. A. MAXWELL.

CLAMP.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 10, 1909.

1,035,800. Patented Aug. 13, 1912.

2 SHEETB-SHEET 1.

T. A. MAXWELL.

OLAMP.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 10, 1909.

1,035,800, Patented Aug. 13, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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THOMAS A. MAXWELL, OF STEPHENVILLE, TEXAS.

CLAMP.

Application filed November 10, 1909.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS A. MAXWELL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Stephenville, in the county of Erath and State of Texas,have invented new and useful Improvements in Clamps, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to tube or rod clamps for wells, and has for anobject to provide a device of this character which will be adapted toeffectively grasp the said tube or rod to hold it against dropping intothe well when it is desired to remove it for the purpose of repairs.

The above mentioned and other objects are attained by the construction,combination and arrangement of parts, as disclosed on the drawings, setforth in this specification, and particularly pointed out in theappended claim.

In the drawings, forming a portion of this specification and in whichlike numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views:-Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved clamp. Fig. 2 is a topplan view showing the clamp operatively engaged with a tube, the tubebeing in section. Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation of my improved clamp.F ig. 4 is a sectional elevation of the clamp showing it operativelyengaged with the tube. Fig. 5 is a detail vertical section taken throughone of the gripping members. Fig. 6 isa detail perspective view of oneof the bushings. Fig. 7 is a similar view of another form of bushing.Figs. 8 to 10 inclusive illustrate detail views of a slightly modifiedform of gripping member. Fig. 11 is a fragmentary perspective View ofthe gripping member and bushing shown in Figs. 8 to 10 inclusive.

My improved clamp embodies companion members 1 and 2 which are arrangedin opposing relation with each other and are securely connected togetherby bolts or other equivalent fastening devices 3. The clamp is of suchconstruction that will permit of its attachment to the pump casing orany other suitable part thereof, the members 1 and 2 of the said clampbeing arranged to straddle the pump tube or rod. The said members 1 and2 are formed with opposing cavities which together form in the saidclamp a central passage 3 for a purpose to be hereinafter more fullydescribed. Each member of the clamp is formed with a 10n- Specificationof Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 13, 1912.

Serial No. 527,300.

gitudinally extending shoulder 4 the purpose of which will behereinafter explained.

Gripping members 5 are arranged in the passage 3 of the clamp and areadapted for rocking movement therein. The said members are identical inconstruction and it is thought that a description of one will sufficefor both. It may be described that each gripping member is formed with avertical semi-circular recess 6 which communicates with a rightangularly extending slot or passage 7. This passage is adapted toreceive a steel bushing 8 which is securely held in its adjustedposition by means of a clamping screw 9. The bushing of each grippingmember is removable and for this purpose I undercut each member toprovide a passage 10 which communicates with the slot or passage 7, thesaid passage being arranged with respect to the bushing so that thelatter can be effectively engaged by a removing tool. The bushings 8 inthis form of my invention are of such construction that through theirengagement with the tube the gripping members will be relieved ofconsiderable wear and when the bushings become worn they may be replacedby new ones at a minimum cost. Each gripping member is formed withtrunnions 11 and 12, the trunnion 11 being j ournaled in the member 1 ofthe clamp and the trunnion 12 is journaled in the member 2 of the clamp.The trunnions are disposed wholly above the plane of the shoulders 41 sothat the lower surfaces of the gripping members adjacent to the ends ofthe members wholly contact with and rest on the shoulders when in thepositions shown in Fig. 3 and thereby relieve the pivots of the members5 of the strain. From this construction each gripping element is mountedwithin the passage 3 for rocking movement. The trunnions 12 of thegripping members have secured thereto rack segments 13 whose teethintermesh with each other. One of the said trunnions 11 is provided withan operating handle 14 which may be oscillated manually to impart to thegripping members the desired rocking movement.

It frequently happens that some well tubes are smaller than others and Itherefore provide for each gripping member a bushing 15 which is adaptedto extend longitudinally in the cavities 6 to decrease the area thereof.The bushing 15 has formed integrally therewith a lug 16 against whichthe clamping screw 9 is adapted to be en 'aged.

The bushing shown in *ig. 6 is similar to the one shown in Fig. 5 withthe exception of the formation of the cavity 17 this being of angularform and is adapted for engagement with the correspondingly formed wallsor surfaces of a squared pump rod. The bushing just described is formedwith a lug 18 similar to the lug 16. The cavities 6 of the grippingmembers have their walls flared downwardly and out wardly preferably,and as shown to best advantage in Fig. 2 the cavities oppose each otherand are adapted to straddle the tube 19 shown in Fig. 2.

In the form of gripping member shown in Figs. 8 to 10 inclusive, themember 20 is formed at one side with an aperture 21 and at the otherside with a vertical slot 22, the aperture 21 receiving the pintle 23and the slot 22 the pintle 24 upon a trunnion-carrying member 25. Themember 25 is provided with outwardly extending trunnions 26 which areidentical with the trunnions 11 and 12 described in the preferred formof gripping member. The member 25 is provided with a neck 26 which ismovable between the walls of a slot 27 in the member 20. The grippingmember 20 is provided with a semi-circular bushing 27. In this form ofgripping member the lower extremity is reduced to form shoulders 28which are adapted to rest against the shoulders 4 of the clamp members 1and 2. The co-engagement of the just described shoulders effectivelyserves to limit the downward swinging movement of the gripping memher.

The construction of the clamp herein set forth and shown is extremelysimple, may be applied conveniently and effectively to the pump casingor to any other suitable part thereof, and the use of such contrivanceaflords means whereby the well tube or the pump rod can be engaged bythe herein described gripping members and held against accidentaldropping into the well..

I claim A clamp comprising a sectional frame forming a centrallongitudinal recess, a pair of. clamping members pivoted to the walls ofsaid recess and provided with under-cut portions on their inner ends andslots opening through said inner ends and communicating with saidunder-cut portions, gripping members removable through said slots andsaid under-cut portions and screws extending through the upper endportions of said clamping members and holding said gripping members inalinement with the inner faces of said clamping members, the walls ofsaid recess being formed with shoulders forming seats for said clampingmembers and said clamping members being arranged for simultaneousaction.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS A. MAXWELL.

\Vitnesses:

A. P. GENTRY, FRANK GRANBURY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

